Real Time User Matching Using Purchasing Behavior

Abstract

A system and a method are disclosed for disambiguating between anonymous users associated with multiple transactions. In an embodiment, a system receives information about a transaction and generates a profile of the anonymous user associated with the transaction. In response to another transaction, the system compares the transactions to determine whether the same anonymous user is associated with both transactions. Upon determining that the same anonymous user is associated both transactions, the system adds information about the new transaction to the profile of the anonymous user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, in connection with a first transaction by an anonymous user using a transaction terminal, a first object identifier and a first transaction tool information;   generating a profile for the anonymous user, the profile including the first transaction tool information and the first object identifier;   detecting, using the transaction terminal, a second transaction relating to a second object identifier made using a second transaction tool;   determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user; and   responsive to determining that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user, adding the second object identifier to the profile of the anonymous user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user comprises:
 comparing the first transaction and the second transaction, the comparing comprising determining whether the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool; and   responsive to determining that the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool, determining that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining whether the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool comprises:
 determining a user identifier and a transaction tool identifier associated with each of the first and second transaction tools;   responsive to determining that the user identifier and the transaction tool identifier associated with each of the first and second transaction tools are the same, determining that the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein comparing the first transaction and the second transaction further comprises:
 determining whether a time at which the first transaction occurred matches a time at which the second transaction occurred.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein comparing the first transaction and the second transaction further comprises:
 applying a weight to determining that the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool;   applying a second weight to determining that the time at which the first transaction occurred matches the time at which the second transaction occurred;   determining, based on the applied weights, a probability that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user occurs at the transaction terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user occurs at a server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to determining that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user, identifying a third object relating to the first object and the second object;   providing a recommendation including the third object to the anonymous user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the anonymous user accesses the recommendation via a client device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the recommendation is provided to the anonymous user in response to a use of the first transaction tool or the second transaction tool in a third transaction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the recommendation is provided to the anonymous user via a token memorializing the second transaction. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable code that when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, in connection with a first transaction by an anonymous user using a transaction terminal, a first object identifier and a first transaction tool information;   generating a profile for the anonymous user, the profile including the first transaction tool information and the first object identifier;   detecting, using the transaction terminal, a second transaction relating to a second object identifier made using a second transaction tool;   determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user; and   responsive to determining that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user, adding the second object identifier to the profile of the anonymous user.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user comprises:
 comparing the first transaction and the second transaction, the comparing comprising determining whether the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool; and   responsive to determining that the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool, determining that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool comprises:
 determining a user identifier and a transaction tool identifier associated with each of the first and second transaction tools;   responsive to determining that the user identifier and the transaction tool identifier associated with each of the first and second transaction tools are the same, determining that the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool.   
     
     
         15 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein comparing the first transaction and the second transaction further comprises:
 determining whether a time at which the first transaction occurred matches a time at which the second transaction occurred.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein comparing the first transaction and the second transaction further comprises:
 applying a weight to determining that the first transaction tool matches the second transaction tool;   applying a second weight to determining that the time at which the first transaction occurred matches the time at which the second transaction occurred;   determining, based on the applied weights, a probability that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user occurs at the transaction terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein determining whether the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user occurs at a server. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive to determining that the second transaction was performed by the anonymous user, identifying a third object relating to the first object and the second object;   providing a recommendation including the third object to the anonymous user.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the recommendation is provided to the anonymous user in response to a use of the first transaction tool or the second transaction tool in a third transaction.